Apparatus for the handling of yarn



Oct. 2, 1951 H. VON KOHORN APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF YARN 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 29, 1948 I I I HUUHU HTTOPNEVS H. VON KOHORN Oct. 2, 1951 Filed May 29, 1948 I4 TTOPNE Y5 1951 H. VON KOHORN 2,570,172

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF YARN Filed May 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y F 5 Y H[[WIHIHYIWWHWMWMU E [Ill L 1 I], "I

IN VEN TOR.

HENRY VON KOHORN ZIWMM ATTORNEYS Oct. 2, 1951 H. VON KOHORN 2,570,172

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF YARN Filed May 29, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

HEN QY \ION KOHORN '4 TTOPNEYS Patented Oct. 2, 1951 APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF YARN Henry Von Kohorn, Scarsdale, N. Y. Application May 29, 1948, Serial No. 29,963

The present invention relates to an improved a multiapertured spinnerette into an acid spinbath, where the viscose is immediately coagulated to form a multifllament thread which is withdrawn and wound into a package, as up a bobbin, or said .thread is wound into a package cake by means of a centrifugal bucket: Thepackage is then removed and placed in a liquid aftertreating machine, where numerous liquids are successively forced under pressure through the package in order to remove all traces of the 'spinbath,

and of sulphur, sulphides and other undesirable impurities which are present in the freshly spun rayon thread and to then avivify the thread. Theselliquids generally include hot water, desulphurizing solution, neutralizing solution and solutions of soap or sulphonated oils. The wet after-treated packages of thread are then transferred to a drier, where they are subjected to a closely controlled drying atmosphere. The dried packages are then rewound or may be used in their original form.

The liquid aftertreatment of rayon thread in package form is highly time-consuming and revquires numerous manual operations. In contrast to this, the liquid aftertreatment and drying of freshly spun rayon thread by the so-called continuous spinning system consumes only a few minutes and obviates the transferring of packages of thread from the spinning machine to the aftertreating equipment and then to the drying equipment. However, the continuous spinning machines now used or proposed possess numerous disadvantages and very few of these machines have yet been proven to be commercially feasible. One type of. continuous spinning machine now in use employs a series of advancing reels for each spinning position, the freshly spun rayon thread being withdrawn from the spinbath and transported along successively lower advancing reels upon which they are subjected to the desired treating liquids, then dried and then twisted and wound. This type of spinning machine is extremely complex, very costly and product. the belt-carried threads to liquids, and to avoid r single layer along predetermined 5 Claims. (01. zit-71.5)

dimcult to maintain and service. Another type of continuous spinning machine now in use, employs canted cylinders for sorting and advancing the thread. Here again, in order to subject the freshly spun rayon thread to all the aftertreatment processes required for such threads or yarns, several sets of canted cylinders are required. thus entailing the disadvantages already enumerated. It is interesting to note that in the continuous spinning machines above described, a completely independent system for storing and treating such separate thread is required and the threads are treated while traveling ini a surfaces.

Another type of continuous aftertreating machine includes an endless belt, upon which several threads are individually deposited in accumulated fashion along spaced points. The aftertreating liquids are sprayed upon the threads while they are transported by the belt. This machine also has many drawbacks. The threads are treated in a relaxed condition without controlled tension, thus resulting in a non-uniform Further, it is very difficult to subject the thread being washed oil the belt or to avoid threads from being floated against each other to produce snarled threads. Where foraminiferous belts are employed, the liquids carry the threads through the belt openings, thereby breaking the individual filaments. Another difficulty is to secure the uniform removal of the thread from the belt.

There have been many other continuous spinning systems proposed. but none of these have as yet suificiently evidenced their superiority over the package spinning system, to warrant their widespread commercial adoption.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for the handling of thread.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for handling a plurality of threads so that they may be continuously advanced in a treatment zone, and while so advanced, exposed to successive treating liquids and dried.

- threads through the selected treating zone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for continuously 3 advancing a plurality of stored threads, said apparatus being simple, reliable, and ofv low cost..

The above and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detailed isometric view of a portion thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary view showing in detail a modification oi the equipment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3; this modification may be used in the other embodiments;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view 01' a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view oi'Flg. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 'l and;

Fig. 9 is a detailed isometric view of a portion oi the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8..

The subject invention broadly includes the continuous deposition of yarn upon longitudi-r nally moving and transversely spaced threadengaging elements; whereby the yarn is longitudinally transported through a zone while supported in said zone in a zig-zag transverse pattern. Preferably, a plurality of threads or yarns are gathered into a planar yarn sheet, and this planar sheet is deposited upon the thread-engaging elements in a transverse zig-zag arrangement, and as such is longitudinally transported through the zone. The yarn, while thus transported in said zig-zag arrangement, may be subjected to successive liquid alter-treating steps and to subsequent drying steps. Thereafter, the yarn can be suitably packed in aflnished state.

According to the first and highly preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 provide two sets or serles oi thread-supporting or yarn-supporting elements. Each set is connected to a respective endless conveyor. Each. conveyor has a longitudinal run, which is designated as a feed run. These feed runs are moved longitudinally from the front inlet or feed-in end of the zone to the outlet or rear end of the zone. These longitudinal runs are designated as the longitudinal feeding paths of said elements. These longitudinal runs are optionally parallel to each other and to the longitudinal direction between said front inlet end and said rear outlet end. These ieed runs maybe. wholly un-parallel to each other, and there may be respective parallel and un-parallel sections. The respective paths of movement of said sets intersect each other at the transverse runs of said endless conveyors, at a front inter= section point or line and also at a rear intersection point or line. These intersection points or each other towards said respective longitudinal feeding paths, in addition to their longitudinal movement towards the outlet end.

Between said longitudinal feed runs and the rear outlet end, the elements oiathe. respective sets are moved transversely towards each'iither 4 and away from said longitudinal feeding paths,

in addition to their longitudinal movement towards said outlet end.

, In' the second embodiment of my invention, only one of the conveyors has transverse end- -runs, and the other conveyor has lateralend runs.

In the third embodiment of the invention, the conveyors are located so that the. two sets of elements have non-intersecting paths. In this end and to disengage the threads from said elements at said outlet end. Each said threadguide is provided with a supplemental threadguide for maintaining the selected tension in the thread or threads, while they are laid around the elements and disengaged from the elements.

In each embodiment, the thread or yarn is preferably supplied continuously at the inlet end and the thread or yarn is preferably removed continuously at the outlet end and the elements are preferably continuously moved in their longitudinal feeding paths.

First embodiment, Figs. 1-3, it designates the chemical spinning portion of the apparatus. H the liquid aftertreating and drying zone, and 42 the winding or coning section.

The chemical spinning section I 0 consists of a suitable trough 13 through which is circulated a coagulating bath of any well known type. Immersed in the coagulating bath are a plurality of extrusion devices ill, each of which comprises a suitable spinneret it, connected by means of a conduit i1 through a filter and metering pump to a source of spinning solution, such as viscose or the like. Associated with each of the extrusion devices M is a godet 18 which is mounted on a plate it, which forms the upper wall oi a godet drive housing 20. The godets is are connected by means of a suitable shaft to a conventional godet drive mechanism which is positioned in the housing 26. A horizontal, fixed lateral thread guide 2 i, extending along the length of the trough is, is positioned above the surface of the coagulating bath and anterior of the godets It.

The treating zone ii is provided with identical endless conveyors or belts 22c and 22, which are identical inali respects. These conveyors 22a and 22 may be of any typa'such as the roller chain type. Said conveyors 22a and 22 are made of any suitable chemically resistant material.

The longitudinal and horizontal top and bottom runs of conveyors 22a and 22 are parallel to each other. The top return run 23 of belt 220. is located above top feeding run 24 of belt 22. There is equal vertical or transverse spacing between the parallel bottom runs of belts 22a and 22 and their top runs 23 and 24.

Each conveyor 22a and 22 isoi trapezoidal shape, with respective transverse end runs 25a and 25. These conveyors may be identical in size and shape.

The conveyors 22a and 22 are'spaced laterally from each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Conveyor 22a has a set or series of lateral yarn-supporting elements 26a which are horizontal and parallel to each other, and which extend lat- 5. .rally towards conveyor 22. Conveyor 22 has a set or series of lateral yarn-supporting elements 28 which are horizontal and parallel to each other, and which extend laterally toward conveyor 22a. These elements 28a and 23 are fixed rigidly to their respective conveyors.

The respective transverse end-runs 23 and 230 are located in respective lateral planes which intersect each other along lateral horizontal lines. For convenience, the transverse endruns 23 and 25a which are proximate to section II are designated as the feed-in or front end-runs and the lateral line of intersection 23 of their respective lateral planes is designated as the front or inlet.

feed-in intersection point or line. The other transverse end-runs 25 and 2311, which are adjacent section l2, are designated as the rear endruns, and the point or line of intersection 29 of their respective lateral planes is designated as the rear or outlet intersection line.

The elements 23a are of rod-like shape, and they are identical and equally longitudinally spaced from each other. The elements are identical with elements 23a and of the same equal longitudinal spacing.

As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the respective top runs 23 and 24 are driven in opposed longitudinal directions. Hence the front endrun 25a moves downwardly and to the rear, and the front end-run 25 moves upwardly and to the rear. In this illustration the lateral planes in which each pair of end-runs 2!, 25a are located, are perpendicular to each other, Hence the movements of the front end-runs 25a and 25 have equal and opposed vertical or transverse components, and equal longitudinal components in the longitudinal feeding direction. The rear end-runs 2i and 25a have respective movements which have equal and opposed vertical or transverse components and equal longitudinal components in the longitudinal feeding direction. The elements 2ia and 23 pass alternately across the front intersection line 23, and also across the rear intersection line 23.

The conveyors 22a and 22 are driven at equal lon itudinal speeds.

When an element 23 of one set crosses the front intersection line 28 or the rear intersection line 29, said element 23 is preferably then spaced equally from the proximate elements 23a of the other set. Similarly, when an element 23a crosses either said intersection line 23 or said intersection line 23, said element 23a is preferably then spaced equally from the proximate elements 23.

The conveyors 22 and 22a are provided with respective driven pulleys or sprockets 21 and idler rolls or sprockets. The bottom longitudinal run of conveyor 22a and the top longitudinal run of conveyor 22 are the feed runs.

At the beginning of the operation of the device, all the extruded and coagulated yarns or threads are connected to a respective single element 26 or 23a, which may be located at the front of the front line of intersection 22. Each cy iindrlcal element 23, 23a may be provided with suitable means for maintaining the yarns spaced laterally from each other. For this purpose, and

as one example, said elements 26 and 23a may be provided with circumferential grooves or other thread spacing devices. The yarns are fed into zone ll across a front fixed yam-guide 31, which has yam-spacing grooves, for example, which are longitudinally alined with the yam-spacing rooves of elements 2. and 23a.

For convenience, it is assumed that prior to starting the machine, the free ends of all the yarns Y are fixed releasably to a single element 20, which is designated as the holding element, anterior the front line of intersection 28.

The machine is then started so that said holding element 23 crosses line 23, in an upward and rearward movement. As the machine is operated, an element 23a will then cross line 33. in a downward and rearward movement, after said holding element 23 has moved above and rearwardly of line 23. The elements 23 and 2Ia will thus alternately cross line 23. The yarns Y will thus be transported and held in respective planar sheets, which are in zig-zag formation, between the longitudinal top run 24 of belt 22 and the bottom longitudinal run of belt 22a. These planar yarn sheets will be maintained at fixed angles relative to each other while said planar yarn sheets are transported longitudinally through zone ll.

At the rear end of the zone H, the holding element 28 will be moved to a position rearwardly of rear intersection line 23. The yarns Y are then detached from said holding elements 23, and

said yarns are then led across a fixed guide 38 to the machanism of zone I2.

The machine can then be operated continuously, while the yarns Y are maintained under suitable selected longitudinal tension rearwardly of line 23, so that the yarns Y are maintained straight and under selected tension in zone ll.

Hence the yarns can be continuously longitudinally transported through zone ll.

When an element 23a is about to cross line 29, the yarns 5 are bent under said elements :1. Hence as each element 2Ga crosses line 23, said element 26a releases the yarns Y. Similarly, when an element 26 is about to cross line 23, the yarns Y are bent over said element 23, which re.- leases the yarns as said element 26 moves below line 29.

The front portion of zone or section II of the illustrated apparatus is provided with a plurality of liquid spray-devices 30, which are located between the upper run 23 of the belt 22a and the upper run 23 of the other belt 22. The spraydevices 30 extend along the width of the section II, and they are connected to suitable sources of treating liquids such as liquids for washing, de-acid fying, desulphuriring and avivifyin'z the transported yarn. A trough 33 is located between the bottom runs of belts 22 and 22a. This trough 33 is partitioned into sections corresponding to and registering with the respective spray devices 33. Thus the liquids which are sprayed by the devices 30 and which drip from the yarns which are supported by the yarn engaging elements 28 and 28a. fall or drip into the corresponding sections of the trough 33, from which the respective liquids may be removed, replenished and recirculated, or may be dumped.

Following the liquidtreating portion of section i l of the apparatus, there is provided a dryer housing 34 through which the yarn which is supported by the yarn engaging elements 25 and 26a is transported. A plurality of heating elements, such as steam pipes, 36, are located in the lower part of the housing 3|, and a suitable circulating device, not shown, is provided for suitably circulating the heated air through the housing 34, to more effectively dry the transported yarn.

Following section II of the apparatus, there is positioned a windingsection [2, which includes a plurality of horizontally spaced bobbin supporting spindles 40 which are supported on brackets 4|, each of the spindles 40 being driven by means of a belt 42 which is connected to a rotating drum of any well known type which is encased in the housing 43. Associated with the spindles 40 is a ring spinning traverse mechanism 44 which is vertically reciprocated in a well known manner by a mechanism not shown. A stationary thread guide 46 is disposed above each of the spindles 40. Moreover, another thread guide 48 is associated with each of the thread guides 45 and imparts a substantially right angle turn to the yarn leaving section II and directed toward the yarn may be dried while under little tension.-

. In the event a yarn breaks, either accidentally, or in the regular replacement of the spinnerets IE, or for other reasons, the storage device, which forms part of section Il may be re-threaded by withdrawing a freshly spun yarn from the corresponding extrusion device l4, leading it over the guide 2|, around the corresponding godet I8 and along a respective groove in the guide 31. Thereafter the yarn is tied, or otherwise releasably held ina' corresponding yarn-spacing groove of a thread-supporting element 25, which is approaching, but has not reached the front intersection line 28. There may be provided at regular intervals, a thread-supporting element 26, or 26a, which has mounted thereon a suitable device for releasably retaining the yarns, thus facilitating the threading of the storage device.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification of the apparatus above described, which modification is equally applicable to other embodiments of the invention, which will be hereinafter described. The modification resides specifically in the yarn-supporting elements. More particularly a driven belt 50, corresponding to the belt 22 or 220; in the above described first embodiment, supports a plurality of horizontal rods 5|, each of the rods 5| having rotatably and coaxially mounted thereon a tubular yarn-supporting element 52. The base of each of the yarn-supporting elements 52 is provided with a rigidly secured friction wheel 53, which abuts and rides along a track 54 disposed below the belt 50. It is thus apparent that, as the yarn-supporting elements 52 are transported by the belt 50, they are caused to rotate about their respective axes by the track 54 and the wheels 53. It is noted that the track 54 may be disposed either along the upper surfaces or the lower surfaces of the friction wheels 53, thereby to rotate the yarn-supporting elements 52 in clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as may be desired. Also, the track 54 may be disposed along predetermined portions of the travel of the yarn-supporting elements 52, so that a rotary action can be imparted to them only at desired intervals. Since the yarns which are supported by the rotating elements 52 have their relative positions altered during their travel, the uniformity of treatment is greatly-improved. By shaping the surface of track 54 to provide a sinuous contour anterior to and in the drying chamber, a vibrating action is imparted to the sheets of yarns. thereby removing some of the liquid adhering to the yarns and accelerating the drying thereof.

Second embodiments, Figs. 5 and 6.In this second embodiment, one of the belts is vertical and the other belt is horizontal, instead of using two vertical belts. Hence the vertical belt has transverse end-runs and the horizontal belt has lateral end-runs.v As in the first embodiment, the yarn-supporting elements are moved through respective paths which intersect each other at a front or feed-in intersection line, and also at a rear or outlet intersection line. In this embodiment therev is provided a trough 60, having circulated therethrough the usual coagulating bath, in which there is immersed a plurality of extrusion devices 6|. Associated with each of the extrusion devices BI is a positively driven godet 63 and a guide member 64.

A thread-storage and transport device is pro-: vided in zone or section 65, rearwardly of trough 65). This thread-storage device comprises a belt 68 and a belt 61.

The belt 66 is located in a transverse or vertical plane. It is of trapezoidal shape, with a long longitudinal reverse top run 66a and a short longitudinal bottom feed run 661). These runs 66a and 56b are located in respective superposed horizontal planes. Thread-supportingrods 68 are fixed rigidly to belt 66 as in the first embodiment subject to the modification of Fig; 4. These rods 68 are optionally lateral and horizontal and equally longitudinally spaced from each other, as in the first embodiment. 'Ihis belt 66 is mounted on pulleys or rolls which have lateral or horizontal axes, which are perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 5. 1

; The belt 6] is of the ordinary type, which has longitudinal run of equal length, in the same horizontal plane. This belt 61 is mounted on sprockets or pulleys 61a and 61b which have vertical axes, so that the equal and parallel and longitudinal runs 611 and Eli of belt 61 are located in different vertical planes. The run 67r is the feed run.

Horizontal belt 61 has a set of yarn-supporting and lateral rods 68a, whose inner ends are fixed rigidly to belt 61. Said rods 68a are hori zontal and parallel to'each other in the parallel longitudinal runs of horizontal belt 61. Said rods 68a diverge from each other at the pulleys or sprockets 61a and 61b.

The rods 68a are always located in the horizontal or lateral plane which is defined by the front intersection line 69 and the rear intersection line 10. The belts 66 and 61 are actuated at equal speeds. The spacing of the inner ends of rods 68a equals the spacing of rods 58. The rods 68 and 68a alternately cross the respective intersection lines 69 and 10, as in the first embodiment. Each rod 68a is given a turning movement immediately before it crosses the respective intersection point 69 or ID. Between the pulleys or sprockets 61a and 51b rods 68a are parallel to rods 68.

The arrows in Figs. 5 and 6 indicate the respective directions of movement of the top run 9 of belt 66, and the runs 611' and 61! of horizontal belt 61.

Stationary horizontal yarn guides II and 12 are provided with-a plurality of bores or perforations, corresponding in number to the extrusion devices and godets 6| and 63,. These guides 11 and 12 are located adjacent to the intersection lines 68 and 10. A plurality of liquid spray-devices 19 are positioned above the top run of vertical belt 66, and a trough 16 is disposed below the bottom run of belt 66. The troughjl is partitioned into a plurality of sections corresponding to and registering with the respective liquid spray-devices 13. Thebelts 66 and 61 extend through a dryer housing 15, which is provided with any suitable heating and aircirculating device, not shown. Following the section 66, there is any well known winding mechanism 16, which may be similar to that illustrated and described in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Theoperation of the apparatus last described is similar to the first embodiment. The threads or yarns which. are extruded by the devices 6|, are led over the fixed guide 64, and about positively driven godets 69. Thereafter, said yarns are led through the corresponding bores in the guide 1| toward front intersection line 69, where the yarns are alternately engaged by the yarnengaging elements 68 and 68a.

As above noted, the rods 68 and 68a preferably alternately cross the front intersection point or line 69. At this intersection pointor line 69 the front vertical end-run of vertical belt 63 is moving downwardly and to the rear so that the bottom longitudinal run 66b of vertical belt 66 moves from left to right in the feeding direction. Anterior the intersection point or line 69, the rods 68a are turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed above the horizontal belt 61. This clockwise turning movement of rods 68a is preferably slight or negligible at the intersection point 69, at which the rods 68a have substantially or only a linear longitudinal movement, in

which rods 68a are parallel to rods 68.

In order to start the machine of this embodiment, the ends of yarns Y are releasably fixed to a selected holding rod 68 of vertical belt 66, in the front run of belt 66, above and hence in front of the intersection line 69. When the machine is operated, this holding rod 68 initially crosses the line 69, while said holding rod 68 is moving downwardly and rearwardly in the frontrun of vertical belt 66.

A rod 68a then crosses line 69, while said crossing rod 68a is parallel or substantially parallel to rods 68. The alternate further crossing of rods 68 and 68a cross line 69 thus stores the yarns in planar sheets in zig-zag formation on the rods 68 which are at the bottom run 66b of vertical belt 66, and on therods 68a which are in run 611' of horizontal belt .61.

When the holding rod 68 crosses the rearintersection line, the yarns are released from said holding rod 68, and said yarns are connected to the respective devices of section or zone 16.

While so stored and longitudinally transported in zone 66 the yarns are subjected to the liquid after treating by the sprays from devices 13, and

the yarns are thereafter dried while passing through the dryer housing 16. In this second embodiment, the yam-engaging elements may have the feature illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawins. nd suitable tracks may be associated with the yam-engaging elements, to impart the de- 68a while they support the yarns, may converge or diverge in accordance with the tension which it is desired to impart to the yarns during the treatment thereof, in the longitudinal runs of the respective belt.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 through 9 of the drawings, and

, differs from the first and second embodiments principally in that the paths travelled by the yarn-engaging elements are laterally spaced and do not intersect each other. Instead, a traversing guide mechanism is provided, which deposits the yarns on and between the sets of yam-engaging elements in a zig-zag or sinuous pattern, in which fashion the yarns are transported through the respective zone, in the desired liquid aftertreating and drying stag's.

Third embodiment, Fiys. ?-9.-This third embodiment has horizontal and superposed endless belts or conveyors 86 and 86a.

A trough 80, having a coagulating bath circulating therethrough has a plurality of associated extrusion devices 8|, thread guide-members 82 and godets 83.

The treating zone 84 has said superposed endless and horizontal belts or conveyors 86 and 86a.

Said conveyors 86 and 86a are mounted in rolls or sprockets 85, which rotate about vertical axes.

Belt 86 has rod-like yarn-supporting elements 81, which are turnably connected by hinge-members 88 to belt 86, so that each element 81 can 6 turn only about a horizontal axis relative to belt 86, to a vertical or transverse non-supporting.

position and to a horizontal or lateral yarn supporting position.

Each hinge-member 88 is provided with conventional spring snapmechanism. When a yamsupporting element 81 is turned upwardly from its vertical position, through an angle of slightly more than 45, said snap-mechanism quickly turns said element 81 to the horizontal yarn-engaging position and releasably maintains said element 81 in said horizontal position. When an element 81 is turned downwardly from its horizontal position, through an angle of slightly more than 45, said snap-mechanism quickly tums said element 81 to the vertical position, and releasably maintains said element 81 in vertical position. Since this snap-mechanism is conventional, it is not shown. I

The belt 86a has correspondin elements and hinge-members, which are respectively designated by the corresponding reference numerals 81a and 88a.

At the front or feed end of the zone 84, respective vertically movable thread-guides 92 and 94 are provided. The inlet guide 92 is located longitudinally rearwardly of guide. Each thread-guide 92 and 94 has a series of through-and-through perforations through which respective yarns Y are led. Each perforation has an inlet throat 96.

Guide 92 has a collar I09 at its inner end. A grooved cylindrical cam 98 extends vertically through collar I00. Said cam 98 has a right-hand groove or recess 99 and aleft-hand groove or recess 99. These grooves 99 are helical and they intersect each at vertically spaced points. The pitch of each groove 99 varies between the ends of each groove. Cam 98 is rotated continuously in the,

r ll guide slot for vertically guiding the vertically movable guide 82.

belt and pulley I08. Cam I06 is located turnably in another fixed casing I04, which has .a guide slot I88 for guiding the up-and-down movement of anterior guide 84. g g

In Fig. 9, the right-hand thread, 88 downwardly actuates the guide 82, and the left-hand thread 88 upwardly actuates guide 82.

The right-hand thread 88 is of high or coarse pitch at its top portion, so that the initial downward movement of guide 82 from its top portion is rapid. Below this high-pitch top portion, the.

pitch of right-hand thread 88 decreases towards its bottomend. This decrease is preferably uniform, although the invention is not limited thereto.

The bottom end portion of the left-hand thread 88 is of high or course-pitch and such pitch decreases towards the top end of said left-hand thread preferably uniformly.

Both guides 82 and 84 are simultaneously located in their bottom portions, and also in their top portions.

Said guides 82 and 84 are moved in the same number of strokes per minute between their respective top and bottom portions, but their respective strokes have difierent periods.

The cam I08 is preferably rotated intermittently, so that intermittent strokes are imparted to anterior guide 84. The cam is rotated continuously at constant speed.

An arm I02 extends from each rod 81 and an arm I02a extends from each rod l02a. These arms I82 and I82a are engaged by corresponding trip mechanisms 88 and 88a so that the rods .81 and 81a are urged from their inactive to their yarn engaging position immediately upon. clearing the housing 81. The belts 88 and 88a and the cam 88 are so synchronized that therods 81 and 81a are swung to their yam engaging position and 82 are in their top positions. The yarns Y are led over the fixed guide 82 around the rotatable feed godets '88, the .flxed guide I88, and through the perforations of guides 84 and 82. The ends of yarns Y are releasably fixed with suitable lateral spacing, to the horizontally disposed engagement rod 81 which is next adjacent to and located rearwardly of rear guide 82.

The machine is then started. The longitudinal rearward movements of rods 81 and 81a in the thread is transported, and which is provided with longitudinal 111115 of belts 80 and 88s, are slower than the feed of yarns Y by godets 88.

Hence, when guide 82 is moved down from its top position, the yarns Y would ordinarily be slack in front of the engagement rod 81.

This slack is prevented by the rapid downward movement of anterior guide 84 from its top position. This downward movement of anterior guide 84 is timed so as to keep the yarns taut, under selected tension. When anterior guide 84, which operates as a tension guide, is in its mid-position,

the yarns are substantially horizontal between fixed guide I08 and guide 84. V

At the end of the downward stroke of the guide 82 rod 81a is swung to a horizontal position and advanced out of the return path of guide 82- and engages the yamsY. The guide may optionally .be held stationary in its'bottom position and in 'its top position, but this is not necessary. At the tops and bottoms, of grooves 88, said grooves preferably intersect each other at common points.

In the next upstroke of guide 82 it passes beyond the belt-88 and the following rod 81 is swung into horizontal position and advanced to similarly engage and transport the yarns Y. During said upstroke, the front tension guide 84 is moved upwardly, in timed relation,so as to subject the yarns to selected tension anterior the rear guide In this embodiment the front intersection line is in the vertical plane in which guide 82-is 10- cated. The horizontally disposed rods 81 and'81a alternately cross this front intersection plane, as in the previous embodiments.

Similar vertically reciprocating guides H0 and III are provided at the rear or outlet end of the zone. Guide IIO corresponds to guide 82 and guide III corresponds to guide 84.

When the engaging rod 81 is next adjacent guide I I0, the yarns are disengaged from said' engaging rod 81 and led through the bores of guides H0 and III to the winding mechanism H1.

The machine is then operated continuously.

When guide I I0 is moved to its top position, the

- next adjacent rod 81 is operated by the trip mechanism 88 which downwardly turns the next adjacent rod 81 to its vertical position.

When guide I I0 is moved to its bottom position, the trip mechanism turns the anterior and next adjacent rod 81a to its vertical position. In this embodiment, the rods 81 and 81a alternately cross the rear vertical intersection plane in which guide I I0 is vertically reciprocated.

A plurality of suitable spray-devices II2 are positioned above the thread storage and transport zone 84. These devices II2 spray suitable aftertreating liquids upon the yarn transported in zone 84. Moreover, disposed below the zone 81 is a trough H3, suitably partitioned to provide a plurality of sections registering with and corresponding to spray devices II2. Following the liquid treatingsection of the thread storage device 88 is a dryer housing II4, through which the heating elements I I5, such as steam pipes or the like, and with any suitable air circulating device.

Following the yarn storage device 84 and the associated liquid spray device I I2 and dryer housing H4 is a suitable winding mechanism II1, which may be of the ring spinning type. The winding mechanism II1 includes a plurality of spindles I I8, driven by belts I I8, which in turn are driven by a drum not shown. A traversing ring guide I20 is associated with each of the spindles I I8, and is driven by any well known mechanism.

It should be noted that here again the yarn Supporting elements 87 may be rotatably mounted about their longitudinal axes, and suitable tracks provided to cooperate with the rotating yarn engaging elements, to impart any desired rotation thereto. Moreover, the paths travelled by the two sets of yarn engaging elements 81 may be parallel, or may converge or diverge to impart the desired tension to the transported yarns.

In each embodiment, I provide two sets of thread-supporting elements, which are moved longitudinally and continuously through a selected longitudinal path, which has a feed or inlet end, and an outlet end.

At the inlet end, I apply the thread or threads in zig-zag pattern to elements of said two sets, so that the thread or threads are supported on the elements of said two sets, up to said oulet end. At the outlet end, I disengage the thread or threads from said elements."

In the preferred embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the elements of the two sets alternately cross an inlet line at said inlet end, and an outlet line at said outlet end, so that said zigzag pattern is produced solely by the relative movements of said elements. In such case, the transverse runs of the two transverse conveyors, or the transverse runs of the single transverse conveyor, provide means for applying the yarns in the supportin elements.

In the third embodiment, the elements of the two sets alternately cross a plane at said inlet end and another plane at said outlet end, and I provide additional movable thread-actuating and guiding means to produce said zig-zag pattern.

It is clear that a true method is disclosed herein, which may be practiced by several types of mechanism or by hand.

Preferred embodiments of this invention have been described, but numerous changes and omissions and additions and variations can be made without departing from its scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A thread storage and thread transporting device, said device being adapted and constructed to store the thread in zigzag transverse form and to transport the thread in such form longitudinally from a front inlet of said device to a rear outlet of said device, said device comprising a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyers, each conveyer having a longitudinal feed run and front and rear end runs forming obtuse angles with said feed runs, a set of elongated thread engaging elements supported by each of said conveyers, the respective front and rear end runs of said conveyers confronting and be ing relatively askew to each other and being laterally spaced a distance greater than the length of said thread engaging elements and the feed runs being laterally and transversely disposed relative to each other and means for driving said conveyers, whereby said elements are advanced in substantially parallel directions along said feed runs and said thread engaging elements are transported along paths which intersect each other at said inlet and said outlet, diverging from said inlet intersection to said feed runs, transported along said feed runs and then converging toward sai outlet intersection, each of said elements being mounted in cantilever fashion on the corresponding'conve-yer and having its free end fxtending laterally toward said other conveyer at said points of intersection.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said thread engaging elements are supported parallel to each other as they are transported from said inlet intersection to said output intersection.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the runs of said endless conveyers lie in laterally spaced parallel planes.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the runs of said conveyers are substantially trapezoidal in shape.

5. A thread storage and thread transporting device comprising a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyers having trapezoidal runs lying in substantially parallel planes, the bases of said trapezoidal runs being diagonally spaced relative to each other; a plurality of elongated thread engaging elements mounted on each of said conveyors, each of said elements being supported at one end thereof by the corresponding conveyer, and having its other end free and extending in cantilever fashion substantially to said other conveyer, said elements being disposed in slaggered relationship on the respective conveyers whereby said elements as they are transported along the diagonal positions of said trapezoidal runs alternately pass between the elements carried by the other conveyer.

HENRY VON KOHORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,089 Powers et al Sept. 12, 1899 1,686,907 Fairall Oct. 9, 1928 1,728,682 Kampf Sept. 17, 1929 1,755,006 Hurxthal Apr. 15, 1930 1,984,270 Hurxthal Dec. 11, 1934 2,000,643 Morton May 7, 1935 2,109,301 Nakane Feb. 22, 1938 2,334,325 Helm Nov. 16, 1943 2,385,894 Taylor Oct. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 505,818 Germany Aug. 30, 1930 

